From the Pastor The Presbyterian Church at Lakehurst, NJ Rooted in God s Love Growing as Christ s Caregivers Nourished by God s Spirit Lesser-known Heroes is the title of an article by Craig Barnes, the president of Princeton Seminary 1 who wrote about Ralph Hamburger, whose family hid Jews in Holland during WWII. Hamburger later studied at Princeton Seminary and returned to pastor underground congregations behind the iron curtain. Barnes likened Hamburger s ministry to that of unpretentious, undistinguished pastors in the world who are quietly doing heroic things - not flaunting what they do to gain power or prestige, but rather pointing always to a Creator for our lives who is not done; a Redeemer for all of the tragedy we have created by acting as if we were gods, and a Spirit who will not abandon us to the mess we ve made of ourselves and the world. Yes, some pastors are Lesser-known Heroes. And so are Deacons and Elders, and members and friends of the faith community who serve Christ by serving others with a compassionate call, or with music or a meal, with teaching and leading. As you read the following pages, count the Lesser-known Heroes who have touched your life and whose lives you have touched. On page 2, note the worship service that we are starting at Arista Care. And let me know if you want to come to participate, and maybe take over, and start a service at The Chelsea. Many of our Lesser-known Heroes moved out of state. But Mary Crichton and Jim Murray are nearby so we can return to them a small measure of the Christian love and care they showered on us and on visitors for many, many years. Please read the newsletter prayerfully and listen for God s call for you to participate in one of the new or old ministries. Lent is a perfect time to listen for God. Pastor Christina 1 The Christian Century, January 7, 2015, p. 33. February, 2015 The Presbyterian Beacon Inside this issue: Calendar 7 Christian Education NOTE THE DATE 2/1 Arista Care Service 2/6 Al-Anon starts 2/8 Ordination & Scout Sunday VBS Planning Mtg. 2/9 P.W. 2/15 Children Lead Worship Country Wonder 2/18 Ash Wednesday Service 2/19 Lenten Workshop 2/22 Come As U R 2/24 Presbytery Meeting Englishtown 2/27 Blue & Gold Dinner 6 Deacons 4 Evangelism & Fellowship Mission 5 Presby.Women 7 Stewardship 6 Worship Team 2 3-4
Page 2 The Presbyterian Church at Lakehurst, NJ Worship Team Elder Glenn Milana Christian Worship & Communion Service at 2:00 pm on the 1st Sunday of the month at Arista Care, 23 Schoolhouse Road, Whiting Starting February 1, we will lead a worship service for Mary Crichton and other Christians at Arista Care in Whiting. Bring the love of Christ to the residents of this nursing home and rehab one time and you will be hooked. We also want to bring worship to The Chelsea in Toms River where Jim Murray is residing. For years, Jim made daily calls, weekly visits, and monthly communion to homebound members of the church. It is now our turn to visit him. SPECIAL WORSHIP ON FEBRUARY 8 The stoles and paraments will be red, the color of the Holy Spirit, when Ruth Bell and Barbara Fair will be ordained as elders, and Phyllis Johnson and Valerie Pomaro will be ordained as deacons, and Nancy Lehrach will be installed as a deacon, during worship. February 8 is also Scout Sunday and the boys of Troop 10 and Pack 10 are invited to join us in worship. What TIME would you like to worship? The Worship Team is going to take a poll during worship on February 15, to get your honest feed back. Do you prefer an early-morning Worship Service? Or does it take you a while to get moving in the morning? And your adult children or neighbors might they appreciate a relaxed discussion rather than a sermon? We talked about moving the traditional worship service to 10:30 and offering a more casual service with communion at 8:30 am each Sunday. What do you think? Ash Wednesday Service at 12 noon on February 18 in the Sanctuary to prepare for our observance of Lent: to sing, pray, reflect, and receive or decline the imposition of ashes. Everyone is invited to participate. The Chancel Choir always welcomes new voices. We practice at 1 pm on Wednesdays and at 9:15 Sunday morning. We are beginning to work on music for Lent and Easter. Please come, and make a joyful noise! The Brass Handbell Choir meets at 3 pm on Wednesdays and before worship whenever we are playing. If you are willing to make a commitment to try, and you can count to four, we would love for you to join us, even if you have never before played an instrument.
The Presbyterian Beacon Page 3 Evangelism & Fellowship Team Elder Renata Sarajew Fellowship Hour: Join us after worship for fellowship and refreshments! Please consider hosting fellowship. We provide the coffee, tea, paper and plastic ware. Just bring a snack, a quart of milk and juice. Thank you. Care for the Caregivers: On the 1 st and 3 rd Tuesday of each month at 10:30 am, we gather in the Living Room for an hour of prayer, sharing and caring. Toddlers Play Group: Cathy Kelemen leads a group for toddlers (age 1 to K) and parents at 10 am on the 1 st and 3 rd Thursdays for games, crafts and fellowship. Ladies Play Group: Donna Lemanski leads a women s group on the 1 st & 3 rd Thursdays from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Bring your favorite needlework or craft project, or sit and chat with us. Country Wonder Carole Sloan will sing lovely ballads with a country flair at 5 pm on Sunday Feb. 15. Bring a table-ready dish to share and join us for a pot luck supper. On January 20, the Session received eight NEW MEMBERS. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to: Ruth Bell recently moved to Whiting and she is a life-long Presbyterian. Ruth was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem PA for 25 years, where she taught Sunday School, served on the Local/ Global Mission Committee as the liaison between the church and a shelter for homeless men, and participated in mission trips. Ruth retired as an accountant, works part-time at Lowes, plays in our Hand Bell Choir, and participates in Bible study. Richard and Peg Burke were baptized in the Reformed church; Rich was confirmed in the Lutheran church, attended a Baptist boarding school in Kentucky; they belonged to an Episcopal church, and served with the food pantry in Bergen County. Rich retired as a machine operator in the newspaper industry, and Peg retired as administrative assistant in the insurance industry. Rich was a scoutmaster and baseball umpire for decades, and Peg still sings with the Westernaires. Don Glick was baptized in the Presbyterian Church where he got involved painting and helping out after his wife died. Don retired as a pipeline welder 15 years ago, and he still misses it. But adult children, grandchildren and two great-grandchildren keep him occupied. When Don is not in worship with us, he is visiting his family in Bethlehem PA and then crossing the river to worship with his Musconetcong Valley Presbyterian Church family in Hampton, NJ.
Page 4 The Presbyterian Church at Lakehurst, NJ Kathy McWilliams was baptized in the Lutheran Church in Newark as an infant, and grew up in Howel, NJ. Kathy and her husband David have three adult children, the youngest of whom lives with them. Kathy studied secretarial sciences and worked as a medical assistant. In 1987 when her third child was born, Kathy had a benign brain tumor. The third benign tumor left her with physical challenges but her can-do spirit is inspiring. Kathy enjoys swimming, playing cards, and she reads a lot. Karen Sanborn was an active member of the Baptist Church in Toms River. She helped with the Food Pantry, and participated in Bible studies. Now that she lives at Silverwoods, Karen finds the Presbyterian Church more convenient, and the people in her pew neighborhood are warm and friendly. Christy Stewart was baptized as a believer by immersion in the river by her father. She was active in the Baptist Women s Outreach, church quilting, missionary work, cemetery clean up, elderly outreach programs, nursery, and fellowship of Christian athletes. She is a full-time homemaker for her husband Justin and two sons, Aiden and Ethan. Christy earned college degrees in Arkansas, and she loves to read and travel. Justin Stewart was baptized as an infant in the Roman Catholic Church. He is a Senior Server Analyst at Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center, and his interest is computers. The Stewarts are interested in mission outreach, evangelism, Bible study, worship, property and fellowship! Christy is also interested in Christian Education, and Justin is interested in stewardship. Deacons Moderator Alice Loonam Please pray for: Anne Bell s brother Tom; Ruth Bell s friend Matt; Nellie Breiner; Peg Burke s friend Meryl; Diana Bryce and Dave s brother Bob; Vi Caldwell s granddaughter Dana; Don Covert; Bea Cox; Mary Crichton; Dorothy DeLigny s daughter Patty; Bonnie Dreier s brother, Phil; the Earleys friend Neil & family; Judy Eggers; Barbara Fair s daughter-in-law Karen; Marge Furze s friend Lillian; Alice Georgeson; Agnes Gibson; Rev. Helen Granozio and friends Harold, Daniel & family, Donna and all to whom she ministers; the Koch s family Linda & Melanie; Donna Lemanski; Alice Loonam and family Joan and Tom, Kim and Tommy; Alice McCollum; Kathy McWilliams; Cindy Martinez; Hazel Melone s grandson John and granddaughter Michele; Kim & Glenn Milana s friend Wayne; BJ Nelson and sister Karen; Margaret Plenk; Valerie Pomaro s mother-in-law Mary; Carol Reagor s friend Sharon; Laura Reid s friend Brenda; Jim Ryan; Lorraine Scecchitono s son Joseph and friend John; Evol Sealy s relatives in Africa; Carol Shan; Carole Sloan s son Raymond and friends Pat, Cody, Louise; Christy Stewart; David Weeden s sister Carol and nephew Kevin; Carol White and Carol, Chuck, Lou & Bobbie, Diane & Buddy, and Cathy & Richard; Ruth Wittich; Marjorie Wong & family Jason, Karen, George, and Robert. Please pray for all who are grieving, and all who are serving and have served our country in the armed forces, including their families. I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord Gladys Marie Claus February 17, 1928 January 21, 2015 TRANSPORATION MINISTRY The Deacons transportation fund has been depleted. If you can provide a homebound member with a ride to choir practice or worship, please call the church office. Thank you!
Page 5 The Presbyterian Church at Lakehurst, NJ Mission Team Elder Kim Milana Food Pantry: is open at 10 on the last Wednesday of each month. Thank you for all of your contributions, especially of pasta and sauce, peanut butter and jelly, canned fish and meat, soup and vegetables, breakfast cereal and toiletries. Lakewood Soup Kitchen: On the 4th Saturday of each month, the First Presbyterian Church opens its doors to people who want a hot meal from 12 to 2. Your ears, heart and hands are needed at 11 am to help. Cub Scout Pack 10 The Cub Scouts meet here on Friday evenings and are open to all boys in 1 st to 5 th grade. See Kim Milana for information. Also Boy Scout Troop 10 meets here on Sunday evenings at 7. NOTE: Feb. 8 is SCOUT SUNDAY! Al-Anon Meetings are open to the family and friends of people who have a problem with alcohol or drugs. Members share their experiences and learn how to apply principles of the Al Anon program to their individual situations. They learn that they are not alone, and that they have choices that lead to healthy, life-giving decisions. A new group will meet here on Fridays at 1 pm, starting Feb. 6. Anyone who wants to learn more is encouraged to come. Narcotics Anonymous offers recovery from the effects of addiction of alcohol or any mind -altering substance through working a twelve-step program, including regular attendance at group meetings. The group atmosphere provides help from peers and offers ongoing support network for addicts who wish to pursue and maintain a drug-free lifestyle. An N.A. group meets here on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm. Ocean County Senior Deaf Club meets here on the 2 nd Thursday at 9 am, and the Ocean County Deaf Club meets on the 3 rd Saturdays at 5 pm. LENTEN LUNCHEON & WORKSHOP THURSDAY, FEB. 19, AT 11:30 AM Lent is a season on the Christian calendar when we are invited to look at ourselves, our relationships with God and one another, and face our mortality. No one likes to do that. But our faith tradition and experience make visible the power that flows from Christ s resurrection every day of our lives. So, come now, when you are healthy and well, to share with and learn from one another and your pastor who wrote Living Wills as an attorney and has since been with thousands of families at home, in nursing homes, and in hospitals at critical moments in life. Please call 732-657-5211 to reserve a seat, and bring your friends and family.
The Presbyterian Beacon Page 6 Christian Education Team Elder Bobbie Seidel Sunday School Classes are available for Toddlers-Preschool, Early Elementary (Kgr. 2), Older Elementary (gr. 3-5), and Middle School (gr. 6-8). Adult Education: The Story is an easy-to-read, narrative version of the Bible. Books are available to borrow or buy. On Feb. 1 and 15 at 11:30 am and on Tuesday, Feb. 3 and 17, at 7 pm, we will study chapters 20 (the Book of Esther) and 21 (the prophets Ezra and Nehemiah). NOTE: Chapter 22 begins the New Testament. You are welcome to come whenever you can. Come As U R Elder Glenn Milana shows a 10-minute thought-provoking video and leads a discussion in the Living Room NOW after worship on the 4 th Sunday of each month. Come as U R! Confirmation Class is meeting after Worship in the Living Room on the 2 nd Sunday of each month. Blast to the Past! Vacation Bible School Planning Meeting Sunday, February 8, 11:45 am Anyone who is interested in helping with Vacation Bible School this year with registration, publicity, decorating, food prep, or leading a class, drama, music, games or crafts please plan to come to the first Planning Meeting. VBS will be in the evening again this year, during the week of August 10. But there is a lot to do before it starts, and there is a job for everyone. So, please join us on February 8! You ll have a blast! Stewardship Team Elder David Weeden The one-time 2015 Per Capita assessment is $35.30 for each active member. A blue envelope for your Per Capita payment is in your box of offering envelopes. Thank you. Also note that soon we will be mailing your statement of 2014 general offerings. If you want a receipt for offerings that you made to the Food Pantry, please call Laure Childers.
The Presbyterian Beacon Page 7. 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 10 Worship 11 Fellowship 11:30 Bible Stdy 2 Arista Care Service 7 Boy Scouts 2 3 10:30 Care for Caregivers 7 Bible Study 4 10 Mission Tm. 1 Choir Practice 3 Bell Choir 6:30 N.A. 5 10 Toddlers Playgroup 1:30 Ladies Playgroup 6 Evang. Team 6 1 Al Anon Group 6 Cub Scouts 7 8 10 Worship 11 Fellowship 11:45 VBS Mtg 9 1:30 Presbyterian Women 10 10 Property 1 Deacons 11 10 Stewardship 1 Choir Practice 3 Bell Choir 12 9 Seniors Deaf Club 13 1 Al Anon Group 14 7 Boy Scouts 6 C.E. 6:30 N.A. 6 Cub Scouts 15 10 Worship 11 Fellowship 11:30 Bible Stdy 5 Country Wonder 7 Boy Scouts 16 17 10:30 Care for Caregivers 6 Session 7 Bible Study 18 11 Worship Tm 12 Ash Wed. Service 1 Choir Practice 3 Bell Choir 6:30 N.A. 19 10 Toddlers Playgroup 11:30 LENTEN WORKSHOP 1:30 Ladies Playgroup 20 1 Al Anon Group 7 Pack Meeting 21 5 Deaf Club 22 10 Worship 11 Fellowship 11:30 Come As U R & Confirmation 7 Boy Scouts 23 24 5:30 Pre-meeting 7:00 Presbytery Meeting 25 1 Choir Practice 3 Bell Choir 6:30 N.A. 26 27 1 Al Anon Group 6 Cub Scouts Blue & Gold Dinner 28 Presbyterian Women Moderator Anne Bell Mary Crichton Arista Care-Whiting 23 Schoolhouse Rd. Whiting NJ 08759 We will meet on Monday, February 9, at 1:30 pm for devotions, mission, fellowship, and to plan the Worship Service that P.W. will lead on March 8 when we Celebrate the Gifts of Women.
The Presbyterian Church at Lakehurst, NJ 101 Orchard Street, Lakehurst NJ 08733 Phone (732) 657-5211 E-mail: lakehurstpreschurch@verizon.net Facebook: Presbyterian Church at Lakehurst www.lakehurstchurch.org Sunday School & Worship: 10 am Rev. Christina Hindley, Pastor Elder Dawn Heaney, Clerk of Session LENTEN WORKSHOP Thursday, Feb. 19 11:30 am 1:30 pm The best gift you can give to yourself and to your family and friends is to express your endof-life wishes before the end of your life. Join us for a light lunch and fellowship as Pastor Christina offers pastoral and legal resources and insights on how and when to express your wishes, and the many available options in our area. Please RSVP to the office. February 1 Communion 4th Sunday after Epiphany Mark 1:21-28 Pastoral Authority February 8 Ordination 5th Sunday after Epiphany Mark 1:29-39 Giving & Receiving February 15 Transfiguration Sunday Matthew 6:1-6 The Lord s Prayer Children lead worship February 18 Ash Wednesday, 12 Noon Psalm 51:1-17 The Journey February 22 1st Sunday in Lent Mark 1:9-15 John the Baptist